In a clear sign that the Congress will be targeting the support of women in the polls, vice-president Rahul Gandhi reached out to women voters at an all-women rally in Tumkur and tried to draw a parallel between the subjugation of women in the country with his own attempt to counter a bully at a boarding school. (PTI)

The Congress leader also made a subtle reference to the BJP and its PM nominee Narendra Modi saying that the party does not respect women. “Their ideological ‘sangathan’ has no place for women. Their leader, what he says and what he does all of you know about it. (PTI)

I am not going to elaborate,” he said at the rally. He expressed hope that the 33 per cent reservation Bill for women would be passed in Parliament during the current and final session under the UPA watch. However, the Congress leader also gave his own rhetoric an escape clause stating that the Congress list of candidates for the Lok Sabha polls would not be able to reflect the party’s efforts to empower women but would be male dominated like the rest of society. (PTI)

Rahul Gandhi said the Uttar Pradesh government had taken a leaf from Congress-ruled Karnataka and implemented the Women's Self Help Group Scheme. Referring to the Women's Reservation Bill, he expressed the hope it would be passed in Parliament. (PTI)

"India cannot be a superpower until we empower women. Unless we empower nearly 50 per cent of our population we will always continue to remain on the way to being a superpower. States where women are empowered are progressing fast," Rahul Gandhi said.

Rahul Gandhi and Chief Minister of Karnataka Siddaramaiah waves to his supporters at a road show in Mysore on Sunday. (PTI)

“We want to give women equal opportunity. In panchayats, in the Assembly, in Parliament, more women should be visible,” he said. “We want to use your strength in the progress of this country. We want to open doors for women, doors of schools, hospitals. Without you there is no progress,” he said. Rahul Gandhi being greeted by supporters in Mysore. (PTI)